Nanomedicine is the application of nanomaterials, or nanoparticles to deliver drugs more effectively and a new platform in Liverpool will support pioneers in the field

A new platform to support companies that are developing cutting-edge treatments for infectious diseases has been established at the University of Liverpool.

A new agreement will see The Nanotherapeutics Hub, part of Liverpool’s Centre of Excellence for Long-acting Therapeutics (CELT), work with the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON) to support the development of nanomedicines.

Nanomedicine is the application of nanomaterials, or nanoparticles, to medicine. Nanoparticles are a form of delivery for drugs that can reach places drugs normally couldn’t reach otherwise. It is a market projected to be worth more than £150bn by 2026.

Led by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and backed by UKRI’s Strength in Places Fund (SIPF), iiCON is revitalising the UK’s infectious diseases product pipeline.

The consortium supports industry in bringing new game-changing therapeutics and products to market in response to the growing global threat of infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

iiCON works closely with large firms and SMEs nationally and internationally, providing access to world-leading research capability, state-of-the-art equipment, and highly skilled personnel, all based within the North West of England.

In its role as an iiCON platform, The Nanotherapeutics Hub will support companies by providing advanced analytical capabilities and expertise in on biocompatibility, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics, physical and chemical characterisation, and the development of better models to improve therapeutic delivery to the biological target site whilst ensuring patient safety.

It will also provide links to other UK partner organisations such as the National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Medicines Discovery Catapult and the Centre for Process Innovation.

Professor Janet Hemingway, who leads the Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON), said: “This is a centre of excellence for nanotherapeutics in the UK and is doing important work to support the development of nanomedicine by driving forward innovation and R&D and connecting global expertise and capability.

“Nanomedicine is an extremely exciting field that is improving the performance and efficacy of existing drugs and treatments. It is also enabling the development of innovative therapeutic pathways and is a key weapon in our battle to tackle infectious diseases and combat antibiotic resistance.”